Though they may not come with high-end finishing touches, you can still find gas grills for around $300 that impress
Experts say that first-time buyers can get a good grill for around $300 or less before deciding whether they want to upgrade to a model with more features.
By Paul Hope
Updated by Justin Krajeski
Some gas grills cost a thousand dollars—or more. In fact, the most expensive model in CR’s gas grill ratings is priced above $3,300. That said, there are solid options that cost far less and deliver great performance in our tests. If your price range is a bit more flexible, we’ve also compiled the best gas grills for $500 or less, $1,000 or less, and $1,000 or more.
To recommend the best gas grills, Consumer Reports rigorously tests them in our lab, where we wire the surface of each gas grill with heat-resistant thermocouples and run four temperature tests. We also assess how evenly each model heats, how hot the surface gets at the 10-minute mark (because our data tells us that’s when people like to start cooking), and we evaluate each model’s sturdiness, among more minor details.
The highly rated gas grills we feature below include small and midsized grills from brands like Even Embers, RevoAce, MegaMaster, and Cuisinart. Other than size, these lower-cost models do away with some bells and whistles, though some equip functional niceties, like side burners. "For $300 or less, you won’t see high-end finishing touches like LED task lighting, pullout drawers, or trays for propane tanks,” says Mark Allwood, the market analyst who oversees grills for Consumer Reports. “But if you’re a first-time buyer, you can get a good grill for a great price, then next time decide if you want to trade up to a model with more features.”
CR members can read on for reviews of five of the best gas grills for $300 or less, in order of their Overall Scores. If you want to see a more comprehensive lineup of our recommendations, check out our full gas grill ratings. And for smart shopping tips, consult our grill buying guide.
Best Gas Grills for $300 or Less
These gas grills from Even Embers, RevoAce, MegaMaster, Cuisinart, and American Gourmet cost $300 or less, and still offer very good performance in a variety of Consumer Reports’ testing.
Even Embers GAS2400AS (Tractor Supply)
CR’s take: One of the lowest-priced models in all of CR’s midsized gas grill ratings, the four-burner Even Embers GAS2400AS aces our heating evenness and sturdiness tests. It also earns very good ratings for preheating and indirect cooking, though its temperature range is middling. This model is light on features, but it’s equipped with coated cast-iron grates, which sear meat better and keep grilling temperatures more consistent than porcelain-coated grates.
RevoAce GBC1748WS (Walmart)
CR’s take: The RevoAce GBC1748WS is worth a close look—it’s a strong midsized gas grill all around. This Walmart-exclusive model boasts top marks in CR’s preheating performance and sturdiness tests, and earns fine ratings for heating evenness, temperature range, and indirect cooking. It has some nice features, including a side burner, a slide-out grease tray, and even a bottle opener.
Megamaster 720-0982
CR’s take: The Megamaster 720-0982 has very good performance across the board, from its preheat performance to indirect heating to its wide temperature range. Even better, its preheat performance is top-rated. Unlike some of the other models in this article, the Megamaster 720-0982 doesn’t come with additional features.
Cuisinart GAS2256AS (Walmart)
CR’s take: The Cuisinart GAS2256AS is the highest-rated small gas grill we test. And unlike most gas grills in this price range, the Cuisinart GAS2256AS is especially sturdy. Its ability to indirectly cook achieves top marks, too. Otherwise, this Cuisinart gas grill receives near top-level marks across the board, from preheat and evenness performance to its temperature range.
American Gourmet 465734721 [Item# 2582840] (Lowe's)
CR’s take: The least expensive gas grill featured on this list—it routinely costs less than $180, considerably less than the $300 limit we set for ourselves—the Lowe’s-exclusive American Gourmet 465734721 performs surprisingly well, with excellent indirect cooking and preheating performance. Although it doesn’t come with any additional features, it also does a solid job of evenly heating the grill’s surface, and its grill has a pretty wide temperature range.
How to Choose a Gas Grill
Sturdy construction, even heating, flare-up reduction—Consumer Reports experts explain to Jack Rico, “Consumer 101” TV show host, what to look for when buying a gas grill.
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